Lawmakers have chipped away at the problem of lead paint, which has been found to cause learning disorders in children.

Yet lead isn't the only danger. Substandard housing contains other potential menaces, from pest infestations to mold, and policymakers and community groups are trying to craft a statewide solution.

Public agencies and community groups in the region will host two meetings May 28, one for public officials and another for local residents to discuss the problems they have had to confront because of aging or neglected housing.

Leticia Ayala of the Environmental Health Coalition in National City said that once community organizers began telling residents about lead, they often found people were more concerned about other problems in the household.

“We knew that lead was the issue that got us in the door, but that was not the full picture,” she said. “They brought other issues to us. We needed to do something about the whole entire house.”

Ayala said the goal is also to come up with local laws and policies, with a focus on the city of San Diego. If the biggest city in the region establishes new standards, she argues, smaller cities with older housing stock, including Chula Vista, National City and Oceanside, could follow.

Local meetings began being held throughout the state this week, and will lead to a San Francisco conference on June 16, where results will be reported. Other cities hosting sessions include Los Angeles, Sacramento and Fresno.

The collaboration is being funded by a grant from the California Endowment, a statewide foundation that focuses on health. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has launched other efforts, and the stimulus bill includes $100 million more for finding hazards in homes.

When entering homes, evaluators look for evidence of mold, plumbing or roof leaks, lead and vermin. The primary concern is disease.

Researchers have found that children in substandard housing are more likely to suffer from asthma, allergies, lung disease, digestive problems and birth defects.